Two human rights organizations called upon the Constitutional Council to reject the draft Law on associations and non-governmental organizations (LANGO) which was passed by the attending ruling party’s majority in National Assembly and Senate on 13 July and 24 July, respectively.
In a joint statement issued on 30 July 2015, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) said some articles in the proposed bill violate and restrict rights and freedoms of associations and NGOs, as enshrined in the Constitution.
On the same day, 26 associations and organizations urged His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni to refrain from signing this controversial bill as he is the official guarantor of the constitutional rights and freedoms of all Cambodians and of the international human rights treaties to which Cambodia is a signatory.
The proposed bill has been widely criticized, as it is used as a political tool by the ruling government in order to restrict NGOs’ activities in Cambodia.
